The James Beard Foundation has announced this year’s restaurant and chef award semifinalists. Two area chefs made the list: Gerard Craft and Kevin Nashan. Both are in the running for the category Best Chef: Midwest. Craft is the chef-owner of the Niche family of restaurants; Nashan is chef-owner of Sidney Street Cafe. Both have been honored with a nomination in this category multiple times.
In 2012, St. Louis saw four local chefs – Craft and Nashan, along with Josh Galliano (of soon-to open The Libertine) and Kevin Willmann, chef-owner of Farmhaus – nominated for the Best Chef: Midwest category. In addition, one area restaurant, Salt, was in the running for Best New Restaurant.
Finalists for the 2013 awards will be announced on March 18, with the winners announced at a gala ceremony in New York on May 6. See a full list of restaurant and chef semifinalists here.
This article appears in February 2013.